Celebrity sun-seekers have been left in the shade by Pippa Middleton after her tan was voted the most desirable skin tone of the summer.

She saw off competition from Cheryl Cole and Christine Bleakley to top the poll, picking up almost two-thirds (60 per cent) of the vote.

Ms Cole was second with 26 per cent, while Daybreak star Bleakley came in third with eight per cent.

Experts drew up a celebrity tan-tone colour chart to help people decide which was their favourite and christened Ms Middleton’s skin Royal Mocha.

The survey of 2,000 women aged between 18 and 44 was commissioned to mark the launch of TV channel Really on Freeview for the first time.

Channel head Clare Laycock said: “Our study shows that, while it’s tempting to go overboard on the beach or with fake tan, this August a more natural colour is most popular.

“We all know people who come back from the salon more tangoed than tanned – now they have the perfect tan-tone chart to guide them on their tan choices for the summer.”